After the Tennessee Titans chose Tulane running back Tyjae Spears in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft, it’s safe to say bewilderment was the common feeling amongst fans and media.
That bewilderment stemmed from the fact that the Titans were fully expected to take a receiver in that spot but instead chose a player at a position the team didn’t figure to have high on its list of priorities.
Frustration only grew from there, as it was discovered that not only has Spears suffered two torn ACLs in one knee, he doesn’t have an ACL in that knee, and combine medicals also showed a loss of cartilage and arthritis.
At the combine, new #Titans RB Tyjae Spears’ medicals showed no ACL, loss of cartilage, and arthritis in his knee (via @RapSheet)
Questions about “if his career can outlast his first contract.” That’s why a player of his caliber dropped to 3rd Round.
— Sam Phalen (@Sam_Phalen) April 29, 2023
Of course, all of this was known, but unless you really studied Spears going into the draft (I did not), it might have slipped by you (I am one of those people).
Spears’ knee in and of itself can be construed as a red flag for a player, but combine that with the fact that the Titans have been the most injured team in the NFL over the past two years and it’s even more ominous.
Spears hasn’t touched on his injury history much since being drafted, and that didn’t change after Day 2 of rookie minicamp on Saturday.
When asked multiple times about the ACL (or lack thereof), the 21-year-old wouldn’t answer the question directly and instead repeatedly said, “I’m healthy.”
“I was out there, I did everything, so I feel perfectly fine,” he said. “I’m healthy.”
#Titans RB Tyjae Spears: “I’m healthy!”@RamonKaylaWill pic.twitter.com/rF6bQIFmKR
— Kayla Anderson ✨ (@KaylaAndersonTV) May 13, 2023
Vrabel rubbing off on his players already when it comes to talking about injuries, I see.
Here’s some of what Spears said about his knee following the draft, but there isn’t an answer about not having an actual ACL in there.
“You have to understand that whenever you get surgery on something you’re going to have to work that area out anyway,” Spears said last month. “It’s not nothing out of the ordinary for a regular person, I mean, from what a regular player does.
“Football is a very physical game, so I’m not doing nothing out of the way,” he added. “I’m doing the same thing these other guys are doing, just taking care of my body.”
Spears also mentioned how he reached out to former NFL running back Frank Gore for extra advice on how to take care of his knee.
“I’ve actually reached out to Frank Gore,” he said. “I’m going to ask him for some pointers and tips on how to stay healthy. I do a good job of it because I take pride in everything that I do, that I do greatness-wise. Off the field stuff is going to keep me on the field.”
Spears deserves the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise, and we have seen players in a similar situation go on to have long and successful careers — but that doesn’t mean we should ignore it completely.
